Former mayor unmasked as elderly paedo and locked up for 15 years

David Hudghton has been jailed for 15 years for child sex offences (Image: Handout)

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An elderly paedophile has been locked up after a jury found him guilty of a host of child sex offences.

78-year-old David Hudghton was sentenced to 15-years in prison and a further year on licence.

Hudghton - reportedly a former mayor of Filey - appeared at Doncaster Crown Court and denied a number of serious sex attacks on young children.

However, on Thursday a jury found him guilty of eight charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13 and five charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Alongside the prison sentence, Hudghton was handed Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to sign the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.

Speaking about the sentence handed to Hudghton, Detective Inspector Glenn Kelly of Scarborough CID said: "Hudghton has caused untold harm to the victims and the families involved in this case, not only through his depraved actions but also by refusing to accept his guilt, forcing them to have to live through a Crown Court trial.

"I’d like to commend the victims and their families on their bravery in coming forward and their resilience throughout the investigation and prosecution process.

"We know that the sentence handed to Hudghton can never erase the pain he has caused, but we hope it allows the victims and their family to have some element of closure on what can only be described as a traumatic and distressing experience for them.

"The protection and safeguarding of children is of paramount importance to North Yorkshire Police. My colleagues and I will ensure anyone who has exploited the most vulnerable in our society will face justice."

If you are a victim of sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is a foremost priority for police and all reports will be fully investigated.

If you are a victim of a sexual offence, it doesn’t matter when the abuse happened, whether it’s happening now or occurred 50 years ago. Even if it is not possible to put an offender before the courts, it’s important that you are offered the support and advice that is available.

Your information could also help to protect other victims and help the police form a wider picture of offending.

Police appreciate that telling the police what has happened takes courage. It is not easy reliving such distressing situations. We understand this and have specially trained officers who will guide you through the process as well as signposting you to other agencies who can help you.